Columbus extends hours at select community centers, pools, splash pads due to heat wave
With temperatures pushing dangerously high this week, Columbus Recreation and Parks will open cooling centers with extended hours at five regional community centers today through Thursday.
Select city pools and splash pads will have extended hours as well, city officials announced Tuesday.
The city facilities are escapes from heat that was expected to reach as high as 95 degrees Tuesday, with a heat index as high as 109, according to the National Weather Service office in Wilmington. Wednesday temperatures will get up to 97 degrees, with a heat index of 106 while Thursday will get up to 95 degrees.
What Columbus community centers will have extended hours?
The community centers open for extended hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the sweltering heat will be: Barnett (1184 Barnett Road), Beatty (247 N. Ohio Ave.), Douglas (1250 Windsor Ave.), Glenwood (1888 Fairmont Ave.) and Marion Franklin (2801 Lockbourne Road).
Columbus city pools: More swimming pools opening this week as heat wave rolls in
The centers offer residents a place to cool off, whether shooting hoops inside or just relaxing with a book.
Recreation center crews will continue to provide regular activities at each center during regular hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What Columbus outdoor swimming pools will be open late?
Select pools will have extended hours during the heat wave as well.
Dodge (545 Sullivant Ave.), Driving Park (1100 Rhoads Ave.), Glenwood (1888 Fairmont Ave.), Lincoln (570 E. Woodrow Ave.) and Tuttle (240 W. Oakland Ave.) pools will have extended hours through Thursday, with two open-swim blocks: 1-4 p.m. and 4:30-8 p.m.
Capacity is limited and pre-registration at columbusrecparks.com/pools is recommended.
Which splash pads in Columbus will have longer hours while it's hot?
Splash pads are the next best thing to submersion.
The "spraygrounds" at Blackburn (263 Carpenter St.), Linden (1350 Briarwood Ave.), North Bank (311 W. Long St.) and Scioto Southland (3901 Parsons Ave.) will be open for extended hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Thursday; capacity limits will be monitored.
Need a break from the heat? Here's where you can find splash pads in Greater Columbus
What other cool options are out there?
Other entities are offering help with the heat, too.
Columbus Metropolitan Library's 23 air-conditioned library locations can offer a refuge. Many of them are newly constructed, and all have public computers and internet access.
And Dublin opened a cooling station at the Dublin Community Recreation Center, 5600 Post Road, according to a news release. The hours will be 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Those who need to visit the cooling station must check in at the membership desk, and a staff member will show them to the center’s lounge areas.
LifeCare Alliance, Franklin County Office on Aging will be giving away fans those in need
Then there is the Columbus-based LifeCare Alliance, which is running its annual "Beat the Heat" campaign that aims to give away fans to anyone in need, with a focus on the most vulnerable, according to a news release.
Clients of the organization's core programs — including Meals on Wheels and the Columbus Cancer Clinic — will be prioritized. Charles Gehring, CEO of LifeCare Alliance, said more than 4,300 fans were distributed last year.
"Once the needs of LifeCare Alliance clients are met, any additional fans are available to the public during one of multiple distribution days that will be held at the 670 Harmon Ave. facility."
Anyone in need of a fan can call LifeCare Alliance's Fan Distribution Hotline at 614-437-2870 for information. The next scheduled distribution event is Monday beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Harmon Avenue location.
People wishing to help can donate fans at any Greater Columbus fire station in Franklin, Madison and Marion counties, or at LifeCare Alliance's Harmon Avenue facility weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Donations also will be accepted Wednesday at Lowe's, 2345 Silver Drive, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All fans must be new.
The Franklin County Office on Aging also is giving away free 20-inch box fans to Franklin County residents age 60 and older, according to its Facebook page. People can call 614-525-6200 to request one.
Tips from Columbus Public Health to stay during a heat wave
Columbus Public Health suggests that everyone, inside or out, drink plenty of water; stay in air conditioning when possible, and visit movie theaters or malls.
In addition, it suggests avoiding alcohol, caffeine and sugar drinks because they cause dehydration; eating light meals; wearing lightweight clothes; and avoiding strenuous activities.
And never leave pets alone in cars or, if outdoors, without water.
Dispatch reporters Thomas Hanks and Micah Walker contributed to this article.
dnarciso@dispatch.com
@DeanNarciso
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A heat wave is extending hours at Columbus recreation centers
